Selector switch mechanism for vending machines



March 1966 c. T. BREITENSTEIN 3,

SELECTOR SWITCH MECHANISM FOR VENDING MACHINES Filed March 10, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 w I INVENTOR.

l Car/Zs T Wez'ie Z em March 1966 c. 'r. BREITENSTEIN 3,2

SELECTOR SWITCH MECHANISM FOR VENDI NG MACHINES 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 10, 1964 it i i Mardl 1955 c. T. BREITENSTEIN 3,243,080

SELECTOR SWITCH MECHANISM FOR VENDING MACHINES 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed March 10, 1964 a a I United States Patent 3,243,080 SELECTOR SWITCH MECHANISM FOR VENDING MACHINES Charles T. Breiteustein, Elk Grove Village, 111., assignor to Automatic Canteen Company of America, Chicago, 11]., a corporation of Delaware Filed Mar. 10, 1964, Ser. No. 350,724 Claims. (c1. 221 -12s The present invention relates to vending machines having a plurality of products to be dispensed and more particularly to an interlocking switch mechanism which allows only a selected one of a group of the products to be dispensed at one time.

It is generally known and understood that in vending machines the product selection levers, handles, or buttons must be interlocked so that only one product is selected and dispensed at a time. The dispensing mechanism must either be prepared by the insertion of coins in the proper amount and actuated by the selection (post-select) or the reverse condition, prepare by selection, dispense on reception of the proper credit (pre-select). The post-select system is the more prevalent one, and it is to this type of system that the present invention relates. In such mechanisms, as shown by the early prior art, the devices were wholly mechanical ones in which a lever or handle was either depressed or pulled to generate the dispensing movement. Such mechanisms, although quite reliable depended on the application of sufiicient force by the user to operate the dispensing mechanism fully, and were of necessity quite intricate and involved.

With the advent of coffee machines and other product machines with required electro-mechanical action, the supplied energy became electrical, and the initiating forces-the coin insertion and the actuation of a push buttonbecame merely triggering actions. These mechanisms required interlocks also and many types were evolved. To provide reliability, the mechanisms were generally intricate and complex, the reliability sometimes questionable, and the assembly and adjustment quite involved and expensive to perform.

, It is, therefore, an object of the invention to provide a novel and reliable interlocking selector switch mechanism, primarily for use in coin actuated devices such as vending machines.

- It is a further object of the invention to provide a new and improved selector switch mechanism for a coin actuated machine in which certain ones of the selections are interlocked so that only one of these may be initiated, and in which other selections may be initiated freely along with the main selection.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide an efficient and readily assembled selector switch bank mechanism in which interlocks may be readily applied to as many of the selections as are desired.

It is still another object of the invention to provide a new and improved selector switch bank mechanism in which selections may be interlocked or freed from interlock in a simple manner at any time.

One possible use to which the present invention may be applied is that of a vending machine, such as a coffee machine. In such a machine there are a number of selections which should be interlocked and some which should be free of the interlock to provide dispensing auxiliary to the main selection. As an example, there would or could be interlocked a soup selection, a hot chocolate selection, a black coffee selection, a coffee with cream selection, a coffee with sugar selection, and a selection of coffee with both cream and sugar. In addition to these selections, there could be provided an extra cream selection and an extra sugar selection, these selections to be actuated, when desired, in addition to a selection of one of 3,243,080 Patented Mar. 29, 1966 the six items listed above. All the selections including the two extra selections would be freed by the proper amount of coinage having been deposited. This use is merely cited as an example of'where the present invention could be used.

Viewing briefly the general operation of the switch mechanism, there is provided a solenoid-actuated ladder or drawbar which is actuated in response to the proper amount of coinage having been deposited. The ladder or actuation frees all the individual selections so that at least one selection button can be actuated. Freeing of the selections is a preparatory step awaiting the actuation of a particular selector button. Actuation of a particular selector button depresses its shaft against the bias of a restoring spring to axially slide the shaft integrally connected to the selection button in a rearward direction. An enlarged collar on the shaft passes an area adjacent a sized slot in a contact actuation latch lever. All contact actuating levers having been freed by the drawbar movement, the one adjacent the actuated selection shaft is released by the registry of the collar on the depressed shaft with the lever slot, and the lever is moved to an operated condition completing the circuit to start the dispense cycle of the selected product. The actuating or latching lever is locked in place by this registry for the duration of the dispensing cycle.

Concurrently with the actuation of the selection shaft, the rear edge of the selected shaft strikes an adjacent arm or arms of a pivotally mounted T-member abutting the shaft inward end and pivots the member or members about their respective mountings. The members each act on' the adjacent member much in the manner of the wellknown progressive falling of an aligned column of standing dominoes. All the T-members pivot away from the depressed selector shaft to impede and prevent the depression of other T-member equipped buttons. The noninterlocked selections have no T-arms adjacent the rear end of the shaft and are not restricted from rearward movement once the selections have been freed. In this way, the non-interlocked buttons are not prevented from rearward shaft movement by a prior selection. At the conclusion of the dispense or vend cycle, the solenoid is released restoring the ladder and consequently restoring the selected shaft and opening .the closed dispensing circuit.

In addition, each individual selection shaft may be telescopically constructed with the axial shaft ends biased away from one another so thatthe shaft axially contracts on depression at both ends. Such contraction would occur when one selection has been made resulting in the shift of the T-arms to a position blocking movement of another selector followed by an attempt to push another of the interlocked selections. The contraction of the second selection shaft prevents the exertion of an axial force on the front end of the second selection shaft sufiicient to force the rear end of the selection shaft against the T-mem-' her arms and thereby cause damage to the T-member arms.

The invention both as to organization and principle of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof will best be understood with respect to the following specification taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of a preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged partial view in perspective of the rear side of the invention and of the side shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a view in cross-section taken along the line 3-3 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is an elevation partially broken away viewed from the rear side of the invention; 7

FIGURE 5 is a partial interior view of the mechanism of FIGURE 4 in the normal condition as veiwed from the rear direction;

FIGURE 6 is a view as FIGURE 5 showing the mechanism in its preparatory condition;

FIGURE 7 is a view as FIGURES 5 and 6 of the mechanism with one selection in its operated condition;

FIGURE 8 is a sectional interior view of the mechanism viewed along line 8-8 of FIGURE 2, this view showing the mechanism in its normal position;

FIGURE 9 is a showing as FIGURE 8 with the mechanism in its operated condition;

FIGURE 10 is a fragmentary view in elevation viewed from the rear of one push button area;

FIGURE 11 is a partial broken away view in perspective of one push button area as viewed from the bottom side of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 12 is a schematic diagram of a portion of a control circuit for a vending machine utilizing the mechanism shown herein; and

FIGURE 13 is a partial exploded view in perspective of one selector unit showing the individual components in detail.

Viewing the drawings in detail, there is shown a switch mechanism 10 embodying the present invention. The mechanism 10 is shown for reference purposes aligned with a partial panel 12 which serves to represent the front panel of a vending machine or the like.

The mechanism 10 has as its main structural member an elongated channel frame 14 having a web 16, a left flange 18 and a right flange 20. The channel web is considerably longer than it is wide, the length providing room for a plurality of selectors or selector units spaced along its length. At each selector unit the channel has a number of slots of various shapes in both flanges and in the web, as will be described in greater detail.

Mounted slideably to the outside of the left flange is a ladder-shaped drawbar 22 which extends past all the selector units. To move the drawbar slideably relative to the channel, the drawbar has a series of spaced, longitudinally elongated slots 24 within which are mounted bolts 26 which aretightened into suitably threaded holes in flange 18. An intermediate one of these bolts has a knobbed stud 28 afiixed to the flange extendingoutwardly to anchor one end of a tension spring 30 to the wall of flange 18. One longitudinal end of the mechanism 10 is indicated by direction arrow 32; the other end indicated by direction arrow 34 has a longitudinal mounting slot 36 1 extending a short distance along the centerline of web 16. Adjacent the channel end 32, the drawbar terminates in a reinforcing bracket 40. Bracket 40 has an outwardly protruding tip 42 extending parallel to stud 28 to anchor the other end of tension spring 30. In this way, the drawbar is normally biased by spring 30 away from the channel end. 32 toward the remote end 34 of the mechanism with the drawbar travel in this direction limited by the length of the slots 24.

The reinforcing bracket 40 has a side stay 44 extending over the edge of flange 18 and parallel to web 16. This side stay is mounted through a motion transferring member 46 to the plunger 48 of a solenoid 50. This solenoid is mounted in the channel, so that its plunger 48 is reciprocable within the channel parallel to the channel web and flanges. This solenoid attracts its plunger on actuation to pull drawbar 22 toward the end 32 (called the solenoid end) of the mechanism against the bias of tension spring 30. Spring 30 supplies a restoring force for returning the drawbar to its unoperated position when the solenoid is de-energized.

In FIGURE 1, there can be seen a plurality of aligned selector buttons or shafts 60 which protrude through suitable spaced apart circular openings '62 in the web 16 of channel frame 14. These buttons also extend through similar openings 64 in the front panel 12 to afford an exposed shaft portion depressible from the exterior of the machine. Each of these buttons or shafts represents what will be called herein a selector unit, each selector unit carrying electrical circuit contactors 66 which are controlled by the action of its respective shaft to open or close various circuits for vending a product differing in some way from the product dispensed in response to a selection at another unit.

- The earlier described channel, drawbar, and solenoid are disposed commonly with respect to all the selector units. Each selector unit comprises a unitary construction virtually identical to the remaining units. On this basis, the structure of one selector unit, unit A, may be viewed in detail and thereafter any differences between the structure described and that at any other unit may be considthe details more fully. In FIGURE 3, there can be seen. best the construction of a typical selector shaft or button 60. This button comprises two sections, a male front member 70 which axially telescopes into the bore 72 of a larger diameter rear section or socket 74. The male member 70 is hollowed through most of its length to form a rearwardly open bore 76 which is in axial communication with bore 72. Within these aligned bores is fitted a heavy duty compression spring 78 bottoming against the axial bore end walls, i.e., the front wall 80 of male member 70 and the rear end cap 82 of socket 74. This compression spring is sufficiently strong to cause the button 60 to slide as a unit axially on depression of the button.

The male member 70 of button 60 has a radially extending thrust shoulder 84 midway along its periphery, the larger diameter of this shoulder continues rearwardly to the open end of male member 70. This shoulder 84 is larger in diameter than the adjacent web opening 62 and the shoulder abuts against the inside of web 16 to position the male member with respect to the web and to limit the forward movement of the button. The socket 74 at its forward end has an enlarged collar with a thrust collar 92 of one diameter abutting against the inside of web 16, and has a larger diameter lock ring 94 terminating in a shoulder 96, at the rear of which the outer diameter of the socket is decreased to the dimensions it maintains to its rear end cap 82.

The button 60 is journalled adjacent its front end along male member 70 in opening 62 of web 16 and its rear, socket 74 is journalled in an axially aligned opening 98 in a rear bearing plate 100 of stationary positioning structure 102. This positioning structure 102 has a mounting ear 104 rectangularly extending from the bearing plate to abut against the outside wall of right flange 20 and be supported thereon by a suitable mounting screw 106 which is received within a threaded opening 108 in right flange 20.

Extending between rear bearing plate 100 and shoulder 96 of socket collar 90 is a compression spring 110 which biases the socket forwardly against the inside of web 16. This spring 110 is weaker than the compression spring 78 within the button, so that on depression of male member 70, the button moves axially rearwardly as a single unit against the bias of spring 110. Continued depression of the button 60 acts to compress spring 78 and axially telescopes member 70 within the socket 74 to avoid damage to the mechanism.

The positioning structure 102 is stationarily mounted to the channel frame at theoffset mounting ear 104 and in the main is configured with a number of differently shaped openings and edge shapes in the bearing plate 100. The mounting ear 104 sets one end of the positioning structure 102 with respect to right flange 20 and the angled form between plate 100 and ear 104 rests on the edge of right flange 20 to set the structure 102 firmly with respect-t0 the channel frame;

Thev details of rear bearing plate 100. are best. seen at selector unit of FIGURE 4 and in FIGURE 13. Rear bearing plate 100 exends substantially parallel to the web 16 of channel frame 14, and as mentioned, is in surface contact with the free edge of channel right flange 20. At the transverse end of the channel, rear bearing plate 100 abuts against the inside of left flange 18 in the form of a lug 116 at one corner. of the plate. The plate 100 is inset from this lug 116 for most of its length at an edge. surface 118 parallel to and spaced inwardy of flange 18. The edge surface 118 leads into an elbow 120 at the other corner of the plate length. Elbow 120 terminates in a finger 124 extending through a slit 122 in left flange 18 and is redirected parallel to the flange a short distance in the direction of solenoid end 32 of the mechanism.

To complete the description of the configuration of plate 100, there is formed at the corner diagonal. from elbow 120 a rectangular tab 126 resting. on the edge of right flange 20 in the direction away from solenoid end 32 of mechanism 10. This tab has a rectangular slot. 128 therethrough, the functioning of which will be described later. In addition, there are notches 130 incised. at the opposed longitudinal edges of plate 100 along the center line of circular opening 98 and spaced from the circumference of the opening.

From the foregoing, it can be seen that left flange 18. is slightly greater in depth than right flange 20, so that the rear bearing plate 100 may rest on right flange 2t) and extend parallel to the web to abut and extend through aslit 122 in the opposite left flange 18. The rear hearing plate 100 is supported parallel to web 16 to allow straight axial slide movement of button 60 and further to provide a stable mounting platform about which the remainder of a position may be assembled in a compact, intricate, yet readily assembled structure, which requires little to no adjustment.

Adjacent the remote end side each of positioning structure 102, a latch lever 140 is mounted in the channel flanges. This lever, shown best in FIGURES 2, 11, and 13, fits through suitable slots in the flanges to extend across the web perpendicular thereto. The lever has. a rectangular main body 142 slightly shorter in length than the width of web 16 and has a rectangular cutout 144 at its center. From one transverse end of the main body 142 a prong 146 protrudes. This prong fits through an enlarged port 148 in left flange 18 approximately midway in the flange depth and continues outwardly past the drawbar 22. Toward the other transverse end of the main body 142, aligned opposite rectangular recesses 150 are pierced to mate in a suitable slot 152 in the right flange 20 with a spring mounting tab 154 projecting from the lever outwardly past right flange 20. The slot 152 receives recesses 150 to allow a simple yet efiicient pivot relationship of the lever to right flange 20 and alleviating the necessity for pivot pins and the like. The mounting ear 104 of structure 102, when fastened to right flange 20, butts against the shoulders 156 outwardly adjacent recesses 150 to hold the latch lever in slot 152. Slot 152, it should be noted, is essentially T-shaped (see FIGURE 13) with its head width great enough to receive shoulders 156 of latch lever 140. The body 157 of the slot 152 is of smaller width than the dimension across shoulders 156 but greater than that across lever 140 at recesses 150 so that lever 140 is held vertically in the slot body 157 to thereby pivotally support the lever main body 142 within the web 16 allowing longitudinal movement of prong 146 at the opposite end of lever 140.

The latch lever 140 serves to support in a movable manner a contact actuating card 160 which is fabricated of suitable insulating material such as paper or cloth base phenol fiber. This card has in its most exposed edge 162 a series of notehed' grooves 164. These grooves receive armature contactors for opening and closing circuits in a known manner. The card is. supportedfor slide motion in a plane parallel and contiguous to left flange 18. The card rests along the. inside of left flange 18 and is held thereagainst by edge 118 of. positioning structure 102. As; mentioned previously, the positioning structure is stationary, therefore in order to allow card 160 to move with respect to the positioning; structure 102, the card 160 is inset with oppositely directed recesses 166 aligned to receive lug 116 at one end and elbow 120 at the other end. These recesses are elongated to allow movement of the card relative to the positioning structure lug and elbow and to maintain engagement of the faces 167 with the stationary lug and elbow for all positions of the card. In this way, the card is constrained to slide motion alone with the card recess, faces 167 moving adjacent to and parallel with the web 16 in a longitudinal sense.

To provide the motivetorce for card 160, the card,- has a slit 168 receiving prong 146 of the latch lever. therethrough. The lever projects through the slit 168 and through port 148 in left flange 18 to terminate adl cent the remote end- 170 of drawbar 22. The port 148 in the flange is s-ufliciently oversized in the longitudinal direction to allow a limited degreeof movement:

of prong 146 and to thereby allow the card to be moved slideably a similar limited distance.

The latch lever 140 is held within the body 157 of slot 152 and is normallybiased to an unoperated position 'by an individual tension spring 174 which is attached. to the latch lever spring mounting tab 154. Spring 174 is attached at its opposite end (toward remote end 34) to a similarly shaped tab 178 of the spring assembly stationary bracket 180. This bracket is fastened by a screw 182 to the outer side of right flange 20 and extends inthe main perpendicularly away from the web 16. To simplify the positioning and assembly of the bracket, a locating finger 184 of bracket fits in the previously mentioned slot 128 in rear bearing plate 100. Since rear bearing plate 100 is also responsible for the locating of the spring actuating card 160, the relative posi tioning of the card and springs are thus assured. At its remote end 190, the bracket 180 :has a spring assem bly 192 including the contactors generally designated by the numeral 66 and comprised of armature springs 194- and stationary springs 196 mounted in a spring pile-up with suitable insulators spacing and insulating; adjacent contact springs. Such assemblies are well-known in therelay and limit switch art and include leaf-springs 194- and 196 insulated from one another 'by rectangular in-- sulators 195 which are clamped together and held in theassembly by insulated screw fasteners. Armature springs 194 extend through grooves 164 in card 160 for movement with the card. On such movement, the armature. springs make or break circuits to the stationary springs 196 within the spring assembly.

Between each of the selector units which are to be interlocked, there is provided a T-shaped pivot member 200. Each pivot member 200 has a mounting leg 202. extending through a slot. 204 in web 16 sized to allow longitudinal pivotal motion of the pivot member 200. One simple method of mounting this leg to the web is shown in FIGURES 5-7. With the end of leg 202 protruding through web 16, a circular hole 206 in the leg is located adjacent the exposed side of web 16. This hole 206 receives a pin 208 resting on the web exposed side within a positioning slot 209. The pin has a washer portion 210 through which ascrew 212 is fastened into a suitably threaded opening 211 in web 16. This pin acts as a pivot for member 200 allowing pivotal movement of wings 214 of T-mem'ber 200 in a plane. longitudinal to the channel 14 and parallel to both flanges 18 and 20. These wings fit within notches 130 along the center line of the rear bearing plates 100 on either side of pivot member 200. In this way, the wings 214.

are poised outwardly of the rear end caps 82 of the button sockets 74 of the adjacent units. Thus, the leftmost member 200 (in FIGURE 8) extends to the rear of both adjacent selector units A and B.

Intermediate selector units difierin mechanical construction from that described in minor details only. For example, in the unit B listed above, the lever prong 146 extends through a slot 220 in drawbar 22 rather than adjacent the drawbar end 170, as indicated for unit A. Functionally, the result is the same. In addition, for such buttons as are not desired to be interlocked, no pivot member 200 is provided and no wings 214 of a pivot member are poised adjacent the socket end cap 82 of such unit.

Now turning to the operation of the mechanism 10, the mechanism is in its normal or unoperated condition when solenoid 50 is unoperated and tension spring 30 maintains drawbar 22 away from the solenoid. In this condition, at each individual selector unit, the latch levers 140 are held in an oblique position as seen in FIG- URES 4 and by engagement of lock ring 94 with main body 142 of latch lever 140. In addition, the edge of the slots 220 and edge 170 of the drawbar bear against the latch lever prongs to maintain the levers 140 cocked in the position of FIGURE 5. In this way, the drawbar 22, when in its normal condition, engages and holds all units against actuation. This engagement is maintained against the bias of the individual tension springs 174. The selector buttons 60 are in their normal condition protruding fully through web 16 due to the bias imposed on each button by its compression springs 78 and 110.

The first action of the mechanism occurs when solenoid 50 is actuated on closure of its energizing circuit which in the general usage of the invention would correspond to the insertion of a desired amount of coinage, such as 10 or 20. Solenoid 50 attracts its plunger to slide drawbar 22 toward the solenoid against the force of restoring spring 30. This movement prepares or conditions the selectors by removing the drawbar end 170 or edge of slot 220 from engagement with the individual prongs 146 of the latch levers 140. This movement of the draw-bar prepares the latch levers 140 for actuation and actually pivots them a small amount to the condition of FIGURE 6. In this condition, the levers are prevented from further movement by the engagement of lock ring 94 with the adjacent main body 142 of latch lever 140 (see FIGURE 11). This preparatory movement of the drawbar prepares the selector units for selection and the attendant operation of a desired selector unit.

The purchaser then depresses the selector button 60 corresponding to the product he wishes to purchase referred to herein as the operated selector unit. The selected button slides rearwardly in its hearings to a condition in which lock ring 94 is no longer in engagement with the lever body but is adjacent latch cutout 144 (see selector unit B of FIGURE 9). The latch lever 140 of the operated selector unit pivots toward the solenoid about its pivot line at recesses 150 under the influence of its spring 174. This pivotal movement of latch lever 140 slides the card 160 of the operated selector unit toward the solenoid and pushes armature springs 194 in that direction to open and close various vend cycle circuits. The button remains locked by the mating of lock ring 94 in the cutout 144 of latch lever 140 during the operative vending cycle of the machine.

From a viewing of FIGURES 8 and 9, the movement to this interlocking action may b seen clearly. As one selector button 60(B) is depressed from its normal condition of FIGURE 8 to the condition of button 60b of FIGURE 9, the button rear end cap 32 strikes the wings 214 of the pivot members 200 on either side of button 60b. These members each pivot and react to push the wing member of next successive member to an oblique or cocked state. As a result, all the pivot members on either side of the operated selector unit are cocked by an action which resembles the successive falling of a line-up of standing dominoes.

The depressed button 60]) remains latched in its operated state throughout a vend cycle. During the cycle, the pivot members 200 remain pivoted from their normal condition to the oblique state shown in FIGURE 9. At all interlocked selector unit, other than the operated selector unit, the pivot members are held oblique ly, and the wings on these members stop any attempt to depress a second interlocked button. These wings do not allow the locking ring of a second button such as 600 to reach the adjacent cutout 144 of its latch lever 140. In this way, once a selection has been made, no other interlocked butt-on is depressible sufiiciently to allow its latch lever 140 to move to its operated condition.

If a second button such as 60c, is depressed during a vend cycle, its socket will move backwardly to engage the adjacent wings 214 and will be prevented from further movement. Continued depression of the second button will compress its internal spring 78, and its male front member will telescope into its socket 74. The pressure relief afforded by this telescoping prevents the full pressure developed by the button depression from being imposed on the wings of the cocked pivot members 200.

In the embodiment shown herein, certain selector units such as F of FIGURES 8 and 9, do not have interlocking pivot members 200. Thus, the buttons at such selector units may be actuated in addition to the one originally depressed to provide additive dispensing in addition to the product dispensed by the original selection. Any number of interlocked and non-interlocked selector units may be provided as required. It should be noted that selector units at either end may be changed from interlocked to non-interlocked by the removal of the pivot member 200 at its rear. Conversely, by inserting pivot members 200, selector units may be interlocked with the only requirement being that all interlocked selector units be consecutively positioned to afiord the domino-like lock movement.

To restore the mechanism once operated to its normal condition (at the conclusion of a vend cycle), solenoid 50 is released electrically. Spring 30, having but little opposing force, slides drawbar 22 toward the mechanism remote end 34. This slide movement causes the drawbar remote end 170 to push the prong 146 at selector unit A and causes the edge of each slot 220 to pivot the latch lever prong at any other actuated selector unit toward remote end 34. Pivoting of all operated latch levers releases the engagement of any locking rings with the cutout 144 adjacent thereto. Release of this engagement allows the external button spring 110 to expand and restore the socket collar 90 to its normal condition adjacent left flange 18. In this way, any actuated button and latch lever are positively restored by the deenergization of solenoid 50, and the mechanism is quickly ready for the next selection.

A simplified circuit is shown in FIGURE 12 to illustrate in general one mode of operation of a machine employing the mechanism. In FIGURE 12, there is an AC. source 230 across leads L1 and L2 with a standard ON-OFF switch 232 on one lead L1. Across the line leads Ll-LZ there is connected a first series circuit including a coin switch 234, solenoid 50 and a normally closed cam driven-set of cam contacts 236. A drive motor 240 controls timing cams (not shown) to open I cam contacts 236 in the solenoid energizing circuit at noid 250. At selector unit B, a set of selection switch contacts 252 are connected in series with a set of camdriven switch contacts 254 controlled by motor 240 for completing a circuit to a chocolate dispensing solenoid 256.

When the switch 232 closed, the circuit is ready for operation. First, a coin is deposited to close coin switch 234 and complete the circuit to solenoid 50 through normally closed cam contacts 236. The coin svu'tch once closed remains closed by suitable means until the circuit is opened to it. The closure of switch 234 energizes the solenoid 50 which pulls its plunger and actuates its drawbar to prepare the circuit for selection. As an example, the selection at selector unit A is black coffee, and at B hot chocolate. A purchaser desiring black coffee, depresses button 60 at selector unit A to close the contacts 242 and start motor 240. Button 60 at selector unit A locks mechanically, as described previously. Motor 240 once energized initiates the vend cycle by closing its cam contacts 248 and 254. A circuit is completed through closed contacts 246 and closed contacts 248 to the coffee solenoid 250 and the cycle is begun to dispense a cup and a metered amount of coffee into the cup. Motor 240 continues its cycle at the conclusion of which its contacts 236, 248, and 254 open. to release the solenoid 50 and coin switch 234. Release of solenoid 50 allows drawbar 22 to restore under the bias of tension spring and the actuated button 60 at selector unit A is returned to its norm-a1 condition.

While there has been described What is at present thought to be a preferred embodiment of the invention, it can be understood that modifications may be made therein and it is intended to cover in the appended claims all such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What I claim is:

1. In a vending machine, a coin-freed selector switch mechanism comprising:

(a) a plurality of selector units,

(b) means common to said units for normally holding all said units in inactuated position,

(c) means operated in response to the insertion of a coin for releasing said holding means to prepare all said units for one or more selections,

(d) a manually manipulatable selection member in each of said units,

(e) an individual latch lever included in each of said units,

( f) means whereby the latch lever of -a selected one of said units is responsive to manipulation of the member of said one unit to move to an actuated position actuating one selector unit, and for cooperatively engaging its member to maintain said one unit in the actuated position during a vend cycle,

(g) electrical circuit controlling structure included in each of said units, the structure of said one unit responsive to said movement of its latch lever for initiating the operation of a vend cycle for said one unit, and

(h) circuit means responsive to the completion of a vend cycle for restoring said coin responsive means to restore said holding means to its normal condition and thereby release the actuated unit for return to its inactuated position.

2. In a vending machine, a coin-freed selector switch mechanism comprising:

(a) a plurality of selector units,

(b) a slideable drawbar common to said units normally maintained in a normal position debarring all said units against actuation,

(c) means electrically operated in response to a coin insertion for sliding said drawbar from saidnormal position to one position preparing all said units for a selection,

(d) a manually depressible selector in each of' said units,

(e) an individual latch member included in each of said units, all said latch members released by movement of said drawbar to said one position,

(f) means whereby the latch member of one unit is responsive to depression of the selector of said one prepared unit to pivot to an actuated position actuating said one selector unit,

(g) circuit control means included in each unit, the control means of said one unit responsive to the pivoting of the latch member of its units for slideable movement initiating the vend cycle, and

(i) circuit means responsive to the conclusion of a vend cycle for releasing said electrically operated means to its normal position to restore said actuated unit and to returnv said drawbar to its original position debarring all said units against actuation.

3. In a machine for vending a selected one of a plurality of products, a selection switch mechanism comprising:

(a) a plurality of selection units, each representing one of said products,

(b) a drawbar positioned normally to hold said units in an inactuatable condition,

(c) means for sliding said drawbar from its normal position to prepare said units for selective actuation,

(d) an actuating lever included. in each of said units, means mounting each of said levers for common pivoting on the sliding of said drawbar to assume a ready position,

(e) a button shaft included in each of said units in dividually depre'ssible to actuate its unit,

(f) means whereby the lever of one unit is responsive to the selective depression of the shaft of its unit to pivot from said ready position to a latch position to lock said selected shaft in a depressed condition actuating the one unit,

(g) interlock arms pivotal upon the depression of said one selected shaft for blocking selective actuation of other of said units,

(-h) circuit control structure included in said one unit being actuated for initiating a vending cycle for the product of said selected unit,

(i) circuit means operative on completion of said vending cycle to release said drawbar, and

(j) means operative on release of said drawbar for restoring said drawbar to its normal position to release said actuated unit, whereupon said drawbar retains all said units in their inactuatable condition.

4. In a vending machine, a coin-freed selector switch mechanism comprising:

(a) an elongated channel having a web and side flanges,

(b) a plurality of selector units spaced longitudinally within the web of said channel,

(c) selection apparatus at each of said selector units representative of a vendible product,

((1) electrical circuit closure members in each selection apparatus, the circuit closure members of a unit on operation initiating the vending of a selected product,

(e) each selection apparatus comprising individual latch structure,

(f) means commonly holding all said latch structures against operative displacement,

(g) means responsive to the receipt of a coin for releasing said holding means to free said latching structures,

(h) an operable actuator included in each selection apparatus,

(i) means mounting the latch structure of each unit to respond to the operation of its respective actuator on selection thereof whereby the latch structure of one unit is responsive to the selective operation of its actuator for displacement to "an operative position in which its selection apparatus is latched in its operated condition.

(j) means operative on said displacement of said latch structure to its operative position for operating the electrical circuit members individual to said one actuator,

(k) blocking means operative on the operation of said one actuator for locking certain other of said actuators against operating their electrical circuit members, and

(1) means mounting said holding means for restorative displacement to release the operated selection apparatus to its normal condition and for thereafter locking all said latch structures against subsequent operation.

5. In a coin-freed vending machine, a selector switch mechanism comprising:

(a) an elongated channel having a web and side flanges,

(b) a plurality of selector units spaced longitudinally within the web of said channel,

(c) each said selector units comprising a latching lever mounted across the web of said channel,

(d) a drawbar mounted to one of said side flanges and overlying all said selector units to normally hold all said latching levers against movement,

(e) means operated on coin reception to slide said drawbar longitudinally to a latch lever freeing position thereby freeing all said latching levers for movement,

(f) a manually operable selector included in each of said units,

(g) means mounting each freed latch lever to respond to the operation of the selector of its own unit for pivotal motion, the pivotal motion of the lever of one unit operable to engageably latch its selector in the operated condition,

(h) cycle control means responsive to said movement of said latching lever for closing one or more electrical circuits individual to said one selector,

(i) interlock means operative on the operation of said one selector for preventing certain other of said selectors from reaching an operated condition, and

(j) means for slideably restoring said drawbar to its normal condition at the conclusion of a cycle to return said latching levers to their unfreed condition.

6. In a vending machine, a coin-freed selector switch mechanism comprising:

(a) a channel frame,

(b) a plurality of selector control units spaced longitudinally along said channel frame,

(c) each said selection control apparatus comprising a latch lever, a depressible selector, and a circuit actuator,

((1) each of said circuit actuators comprising a contact actuating card slideable longitudinally in said channel frame on movement of its latch lever,

(e) a slideable drawbar commonly positioned to hold and prevent all of said latch levers from movement,

(f) a common solenoid responsive to reception of a coin for slideably moving said drawbar from its movement preventing position to free all said latch levers for movement,

(g) the selector shaft on one selector responsive to the selective depression of that shaft for releasing its freed latch lever for movement longitudinally in said channel frame to an actuated position and for sliding said actuating card to a contact operating condition,

(h) an enlarged body on said selector shaft positioned to engage the latch lever on said shaft depression and lever movement to combinedly latch said unit in an actuated position,

(i) ecntactor springs responsive to said slide movement of said actuating card to its operating condition for initiating a cycle, and

(j) an interlock member adjacent certain of said units,

the interlock members adjacent said one unit movable on said selector engagement to debar said certain other units from actuation.

7. In a vending machine, a coin-freed selector switch mechanism for controlling the operation of a vending cycle comprising:

(a) an elongated channel,

(b) a plurality of individually operable selector units spaced longitudinally within said channel,

(c) electrical circuit controllers included in each selector unit and actuatable individually to initiate an operative cycle,

(d) a latch lever included in each of said units,

(e) means mounting each of said levers across the channel,

(f) ladder means mounted longitudinally along said channel and overlying one end of each of said levers to commonly hold all said latch levers against movement,

(g) a solenoid afiixed to one end of said ladder means and responsive to the receipt of a coin for sliding said ladder means to a position freeing said latch levers for displacement,

(h) a manual selector depressible normal to said channel and included in each of said units,

(i) means whereby the freed latch lever of a unit is released by the selective depression of the selector of that unit for displacement to an actuated position engaging said one selector in its actuated condition,

(j) a circuit control card slideable longitudinally of said channel by said latch lever on movement thereof for actuating the circuit controllers of said selected unit to initiate a vending cycle individual to said one selected unit, and

(k) interlock means operative upon the depression of said one selector for pivotal motion longitudinally to said channel blocking certain other of said selectors against initiation of their vending cycles.

8. A multiple switch mechanism for selective operation comprising:

(a) a plurality of switch units longitudinally spaced along said mechanism,

(b) a common freeing member for said units freeing all said units for selection of one or more thereof,

(c) each of said units comprising:

(1) a switch operator selectively depressible,

(2) a body portion on said operator movable into the mechanism on depression of its operator,

(3) a latch level normally contacting said body to maintain the switch inoperative,

(4) an opening in said lever receptive of said body on depression thereof,

(5) means biasing said lever for longitudinal movement on reception of said body to engage said body and maintain said body depressed, and

(6) a contact actuator connected to said lever for sliding movement with said lever to an actuated position to effectuate said selection.

9. A multiple switch mechanism for selective operation comprising:

(a) an elongated channel frame,

(b) a plurality of switch units longitudinally spaced along said channel frame,

(c) a drawbar common to all said units and slideable longitudinally along said channel frame to free all said units for selection of one or more thereof,

(d) each of said units comprising:

(1) a latch lever pivotally mounted transversely to said channel frame for effectuating the switch operation,

(2) a selectively depressible button having an enlarged body portion normally contacting said latch lever to maintain said lever inoperative,

(3) an enlarged body portion on said button movable into the mechanism on depression of the button,

(4) an opening in said lever receptive of said body portion on depression thereof,

(5) means biasing said lever for longitudinal movement on reception of said body to encircle said body and hold said body in a depressed condition, and

(6) a contact actuating card mounted along said channel frame and engaged to said lever for sliding movement with said lever to an actuated position to initiate the implementation of said selection.

10. A multiple switch mechanism for selective operation comprising:

(a) a channel member having a web and side flanges, (b) a slideable bar mounted along one side flange and slideable to free all said units for selection of one of more thereof, (c) each of said units comprising:

(1) a latch lever mounted transversely across said channel Web in engagement with said slideable bar, said lever freed for subsequent movement by the sliding of said bar,

(2) an actuating button depressible into said channel web,

(3) an enlarged body on said button normally engaging the body of its lever once freed to hold said lever against actuation,

(4) an opening in said lever receptive of said body on depression thereof,

(5) means biasing said lever for longitudinal movement on reception of said body to engage said body and maintain said body depressed,

(6) a contact actuator connected to said lever for sliding movement with said lever to an actuated position to effectuate said selection, and

(7) means biasing said slideable bar for return to its normal condition restoring siad lever, said contact actuator, and the depressed button.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,076,564 4/1937 Hoban 194-10 2,323,981 7/1943 Du Grenier et al. s 194-40 2,923,433 2/ 1960 Gabrielsen et a1. 221

FOREIGN PATENTS 345,189 4/ 1960 Switzerland.

LOUIS I. DEMBO, Primary Examiner.

WALTER SOBIN, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN A VENDING MACHINCE, A COIN-FREED SELECTOR SWITCH MECHANISM COMPRISING: (A) A PLURALITY OF SELECTOR UNITS, (B) MEANS COMMON TO SAID UNITS FOR NORMALLY HOLDING ALL SAID UNITS IN INACTUATED POSITION, (C) MEANS OPERATED IN RESPONSE TO THE INSERTION OF A COIN FOR RELEASING SAID HOLDING MEANS TO PREPARE ALL SAID UNITS FOR ONE OR MORE SELECTIONS, (D) A MANUALLY MANIPULATABLE SELECTION MEMBER IN EACH OF SAID UNITS, (E) AN INDIVIDUAL LATCH LEVER INCLUDED IN EACH OF SAID UNITS, (F) MEANS WHEREBY THE LATCH LEVER OF A SELECTED ONE OF SAID UNITS IS RESPONSIVE TO MANIPULATION OF THE MEMBER OF SAID ONE UNIT TO MOVE TO AN ACTUATED POSITION ACTUATING ONE SELECTOR UNIT, AND FOR COOPERATIVELY ENGAGING ITS MEMBER TO MAINTAIN SAID ONE UNIT IN THE ACTUATED POSITION DURING A VEND CYCLE, (G) ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT CONTROLLING STRUCTURE INCLUDED IN EACH OF SAID UNITS, THE STRUCTURE OF SAID ONE UNIT RESPONSIVE TO SAID MOVEMENT OF ITS LATCH LEVER FOR INITIATING THE OPERATION OF A VEND CYCLE FOR SAID ONE UNIT, AND (H) CIRCUIT MEANS RESPONSIVE TO THE COMPLETION OF A VEND CYCLE FOR RESTORING SAID COIN RESPONSIVE MEANS TO RESTORE SAID HOLDING MEANS TO ITS NORMAL CONDITION AND THEREBY RELEASE THE ACTUATED UNIT FOR RETURN TO ITS INACTUATED POSITION. 